News

July 25, 2018

CLF Launches Military Brain Pledge Campaign Project Enlist

The Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) has partnered with the Infinite Hero Foundation (IHF) to launch CLF Project Enlist. The goal of CLF Project Enlist is to accelerate research into the effects of brain trauma in military veterans by encouraging members of the military and veteran communities to pledge their brains to science.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to improvised explosive devices (IED) and other military service-related causes is a significant problem for our active military and veteran communities. However, the scientific understanding of TBI, and related disorders, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), is in its infancy, and we lack accurate diagnostic tests for living patients and effective treatments. There is an urgent need for scientists to better understand how to diagnose and treat TBI so they can protect the heroes who courageously fight for our nation.

“Brain donation has proven to be the best accelerator of research on CTE, and through Project Enlist, we will make major strides to support our veterans who experience the effects of brain trauma after serving our country,” said CLF co-founder and CEO Chris Nowinski, Ph.D.

CLF and IHF leadership were joined at the launch by the first group of pledges to Project Enlist, including IHF spokesperson and NHRA mainstay Gary Linfoot, former Marine Michael Wilson, and retired Navy SEALs Jason Redman, Alexander Oliver, and Morgan Luttrell, who currently serves as Senior Advisor for Veterans Relations at the U.S. Department of Energy.

“I consider it an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to pledge my brain to the Concussion Legacy Foundation and Project Enlist. I know firsthand how much this research can help other veterans now and in the future,” said Lt. (Ret.) Luttrell. “I hope more of my brothers and sisters will join me in pledging their brain so that we can be a part of solving the problem and finding the solution for those suffering from brain injuries.”